(Nairobi) – A $5 million EU-backed investment will help over 100,000 Kenyan households switch from polluting fuels to clean electric cooking, cutting energy costs and carbon emissions.
BURN, Africa’s largest clean cookstove manufacturer, has secured $5 million (approx. KSh 650 million) from the Electrification Financing Initiative (ElectriFI), a European Union-funded program managed by EDFI Management Company. The funding will accelerate the rollout of BURN’s energy-efficient ECOA Induction Cooker (ECOA IDC), which uses IoT technology to track usage and carbon savings.
Currently, many Kenyan households spend roughly $12 (KSh 1,560) per week on charcoal, wood, or liquefied petroleum gas (LPG), despite having access to grid electricity. High upfront costs for electric stoves have slowed adoption, but BURN’s Pay As You Cook (PAYC) system—integrated with mobile money—allows low-income users to pay in small installments via the ECOA Mobile App, achieving full ownership within a year.
The project is projected to eliminate 1.4 million tons of CO₂ emissions over the cookers’ lifespan while reducing household energy expenses by 40–60%. BURN has already deployed over 40,000 induction cookers in East and West Africa, proving the viability of locally made electric solutions.
“Kenya’s electricity grid is over 90% renewable, yet more than 15 million households still rely on polluting fuels. This investment bridges that gap,” said Peter Scott, BURN’s Founder and CEO. “We’re proving that African-designed electric cooking can deliver clean, affordable energy at scale.”
The initiative aligns with the EU’s climate resilience goals, showcasing how targeted financing can spur sustainable development. BURN, headquartered in Nairobi, has distributed over 5 million clean stoves across 11 African countries, impacting 25 million people and avoiding 26 million tons of CO₂ emissions.
Key Data at a Glance
| Metric | Figure |
|---|---|
| Total Investment | $5 million (≈KSh 650 million) |
| Households Targeted | 100,000+ |
| CO₂ Reduction (Lifetime) | 1.4 million tons |
| Energy Cost Savings | 40–60% per household |
| Existing ECOA Cookers Deployed | 40,000+ |
| BURN’s Total Stoves Distributed | 5 million+ across Africa |
BURN’s stoves have also slashed indoor air pollution by 65–100% and saved 16 million tons of wood, aiding forest conservation. With 3,000 employees and a vertically integrated carbon credit system, the company continues to lead Africa’s transition to sustainable cooking.